Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALHITWOQ’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALHITWOQ’, particularly characterized by having reddish-purple flowers with very light purple edges and red-purple lips, a moderately compressed to medium petal shape, lips with a depth of 30.0 mm to 32.0 mm, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALHITWOQ’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of the Orchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘PHALHITWOQ’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. The objective of this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant with numerous attractive, large reddish-purple flowers with very light purple edges and red-purple lips, suitable for potted plant production.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHALHITWOQ’ is a result of cross-pollination made by the inventor in December 2007 in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, of the proprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘32522-04’ (unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘32522-03’ (unpatented).

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, in December 2010. Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culture since 2016 in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, has demonstrated that the new variety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations.

Community Plant Variety Rights for this variety have been applied for in the European Union on Sep. 25, 2018, by Applicant who obtained the subject matter disclosed directly from the inventor. ‘PHALHITWOQ’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world prior to the effective filing date of this application with the exception of sales or disclosures made one year or less before the effective filing date of this claimed invention by Applicant who obtained ‘PHALHITWOQ’ directly from the inventor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, and can be used to distinguish ‘PHALHITWOQ’ as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant:

-   -   1) Reddish-purple flowers with very light purple edges and         red-purple lips;     -   2) Moderately compressed to medium petal shape; and     -   3) Lips with a depth of 30.0 mm to 32.0 mm.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs were taken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, from 50-week-old plants in November 2019. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds, and foliage of ‘PHALHITWOQ’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALHITWOQ’.

FIG. 3 shows an overhead view of the leaves of ‘PHALHITWOQ’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘PHALHITWOQ’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype. The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under 4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Observations and measurements were made in November 2019 on flowering plants which were planted in 12-centimeter (diameter) pots. After in-vitro propagation, the plants were grown in nursery trays for 20-24 weeks, followed by transplantation to 12-centimeter pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C. Flowering occurs after 50 weeks in 12-centimeter pots.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.         -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.         -   Common name.—Moth orchid.         -   Variety name.—‘PHALHITWOQ’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘32522-04’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘32522-03’ (unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture. -   Roots:     -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green (between RHS 190B and 190C)             colored roots with branching lateral roots having             purplish-red (RHS N77B) colored root tips. -   Plant:     -   -   Commercial crop time to flowering.—Following asexual             propagation (in vitro), the rooted cuttings grow for 20-24             weeks. After transplantation into 12-cm pots, the plants are             finished after 48 to 50 weeks.         -   Growth habit of the peduncle.—Upright to slightly pendant             with raceme or panicle inflorescence.         -   Height (from soil level to top of             inflorescence).—Approximately 55.0 cm to 60.0 cm.         -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 32.0 cm to 34.0 cm.         -   Vigor.—Strong. -   Leaves:     -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 6 to 8 leaves are             produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 17.0 cm             to 20.0 cm. Width: 7.5 cm to 8.5 cm. Position of the             broadest part of the leaf: Toward the apex. Shape: Obovate.             Base shape: Moderately elongated. Apex: Obtuse unequal. Leaf             blade angle with the petiole (measured from the horizontal             position): Between 15 degrees and 35 degrees. Leaf margin:             Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface: RHS             146B with purplish-red edge (RHS N77A). Texture (both upper             and lower surfaces): Smooth. Thickness: 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm.             Variegation: Absent. Venation: Pattern: Parallel. Color of             the midvein: Upper surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface:             Yellow-green (RHS 144A) at the base and purple (RHS N77A)             toward the tip. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 2.         -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—9 to 13.         -   Length.—55.0 cm to 60.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—5.6 mm to 6.1 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly pendant.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Mix of brown (RHS 200A) and yellow-green (RHS 146C).         -   Internode length.—3.5 cm to 4.5 cm. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme or panicle             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Number of inflorescences.—1 to 2.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 200.0 mm to             240.0 mm.         -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11             months after planting in a 12-cm pot.         -   Flower.—Height: 73.0 mm to 78.0 mm. Diameter: 93.0 mm to             98.0 mm. Depth of lip: 30.0 mm to 32.0 mm.         -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 6 to 8 weeks.         -   Flower shape.—Flat.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flower bud.—Average size: Large. Length: 22.0 mm to 24.0 mm.             Width: 20.0 mm to 22.0 mm. Shape: Egg shaped. Color: Dark             purplish-red (RHS N79C).         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:             Emarginated asymmetric. Margin: Moderately undulated. Length             (from base to tip): 43.0 mm to 45.0 mm. Width: 56.0 mm to             58.0 mm. Position of the broadest part of the petal: Toward             the base. Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic             color: Reddish-purple (between RHS N78A and NN78A). Over             color: Very light purple edge (RHS 76B). Lower surface:             Basic color: Reddish-purple (RHS N78B). Over color: Light             purple (RHS 76A) at the base and edge. Number of spots and             stripes on the petals (upper surface): Few very small spots             at the base. Color of spots and stripes on the petals (upper             surface): RHS 76B. Density of netting of the petals (upper             surface): None. Color of the netting (upper surface): None.         -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Obtuse symmetric.             Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 42.0 mm to             44.0 mm. Width: 29.0 mm to 31.0 mm. Position of the broadest             part of the dorsal sepals: In the middle. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Purplish-red (RHS 72A).             Over color: Absent. Lower surface: Basic color:             Reddish-purple (RHS N78B). Over color: Purplish-pink (RHS             N78C). Number of spots and stripes on the dorsal sepals             (upper surface): Many very small spots and medium stripes.             Color of spots and stripes on the dorsal sepals (upper             surface): Spots: RHS 76B; stripes: RHS N79C. Density of             netting of the dorsal sepals (upper surface): None. Color of             the netting (upper surface): None.         -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse symmetric.             Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 45.0 mm to             47.0 mm. Width: 27.0 mm to 29.0 mm. Position of the broadest             part of the lateral sepals: At the base. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Dark reddish-purple             (RHS 72A). Over color: Slightly light green (RHS 195A) and             red (RHS 60A) at the base. Lower surface: Basic color:             Reddish-purple (RHS 72B). Over color: Touch of yellow-green             (RHS 195B) at the base and reddish-purple middle vein (RHS             N78B). Number of spots and stripes on the lateral sepals             (upper surface): Very many very small dots and medium             stripes. Color of spots and stripes on the lateral sepals             (upper surface): Dots: RHS 60A at the base and RHS 60A             toward the tip; stripes: RHS N79C. Density of netting of the             lateral sepals (upper surface): None. Color of the netting             (upper surface): None.         -   Labellum (lip).—Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers: 9.0             mm to 11.0 mm. Color of whiskers: Dark purplish-red (RHS             N79C) with white tips (RHS NN155C). Pubescence on the lip:             Absent.         -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type V (as described in the             International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of             Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); spatulate.             Margin: Entire. Length: 19.0 mm to 21.0 mm. Width: 14.0 mm             to 16.0 mm. Color: Upper surface: Slightly yellow (RHS 8A)             at the base; red (RHS 60A) toward the middle of the lobe and             reddish-purple (RHS N78A) toward the edge. Lower surface:             Yellowish-white (RHS 156D) at the base on one side; reddish             (RHS 60A) on the other side; reddish-purple (RHS N78B)             toward the tip. Number of spots and stripes on the lateral             lobe (upper surface): Few stripes at the base. Color of             spots and stripes on the lateral lobe (upper surface): RHS             60A. Density of netting of the lateral lobe (upper surface):             None. Color of the netting (upper surface): None.         -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular. Margin: Entire. Length: 19.0             mm to 21.0 mm. Width: 17.0 mm to 19.0 mm. Color: Upper             surface: Red-purple wings (RHS 60A and 72A); reddish-purple             (mix of RHS N78A and NN78A) toward the whiskers. Lower             surface: Purplish-red (RHS 71A) at the base and wings;             reddish-purple (RHS N78A) toward edge; purplish-pink (RHS             N78C) in the middle. Number of spots and stripes on the             apical lobe (upper surface): None. Color of spots and             stripes on the apical lobe (upper surface): None. Density of             netting of the apical lobe (upper surface): None. Color of             the netting (upper surface): None.         -   Callus.—Average size: Medium to large. Height: 7.0 mm to             8.0 mm. Length: 6.0 mm to 7.0 mm. Width: 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm.             Color: Purplish-red (RHS 70A) at the base; light yellow (RHS             10B) with reddish spots (RHS 184B). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Column.—Length: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm. Diameter: 5.0 mm to             6.0 mm. Color: Reddish-purple (RHS N78A).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Diameter: 0.9 mm to 1.2 mm. Color:             Orange (RHS 25A).         -   Ovary.—Length: 11.0 mm to 13.0 mm. Diameter: 2.0 mm to 3.0             mm.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 34.0 mm to 36.0 mm. Diameter: 3.0 mm to             4.0 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color: Mix of brown (RHS 200D) and             green (RHS 147C) at the base; light reddish-purple (RHS             N78D) toward the flower. -   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to     Phalaenopsis to date. -   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on     plants of the new Phalaenopsis to date.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND MOST SIMILAR VARIETIES

The female parent plant of ‘PHALHITWOQ’, cultivar ‘32522-04’ (unpatented), is no longer in existence, so a meaningful comparison cannot be made.

‘PHALHITWOQ’ differs from male parent plant ‘32522-03’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALHITWOQ’ has petals in an open/free arrangement with emarginated apexes, whereas ‘32522-03’ has petals that are touching with rounded apexes.

‘PHALHITWOQ’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named ‘PHALOSZIH’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,945) and ‘PHALGLAOR’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/501,177). ‘PHALHITWOQ’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALOSZIH’ in that ‘PHALHITWOQ’ has emarginated petal apexes, whereas ‘PHALOSZIH’ has rounded petal apexes. Additionally, ‘PHALHITWOQ’ has longer lateral sepals than ‘PHALOSZIH’.

‘PHALHITWOQ’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALGLAOR’ in that ‘PHALHITWOQ’ has emarginated petal apexes, whereas ‘PHALGLAOR’ has rounded to slightly mucronated petal apexes. Additionally, ‘PHALHITWOQ’ has shorter whiskers and narrower apical lobes than ‘PHALGLAOR’. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALHITWOQ’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 